When will Americans realize that they are living in a planet with limited resources?

Question

I compared my expenses with energy and yours, and noticed that even living in a three-store house with computer, television and many electronic equipments I still use only 1/4 of the avarage consumption in America. When will you stop to do this polluting orgy? I thought that to achieve your consumption I should install a laser over the roof that could hit the clouds.

You should have some classes about environmental care. The entire planet is complaining of your behavior, but you aren't realizing it. Many countries (includding mine) will be severely affected by your pollution. I saw many articles saying that americans are completely disconnected of the serious environmental problems that they are causing.

How many bullshit!!!! I'm sorry to say, but you are incredible stupid to a "first-world" country. Another brainwash of your government?

Malthusean nonsense cannot be applied to your wastefullness. It could be a valid argument if everything that you're using came from renewable sources. But you are destroying the planet, and not making more with less.

Answer 1

Never... life sucks, don't it?

Answer 2

Well, a number of things I think are in play:
1. America and American cities are young, for example the Twin Cities are young enough to have evolved with the automobile to a great extent and trust me, the Twin Cities/ suburban experience is closer to the American experience than the denser New York one.
2. Hegemony. The 20th century was the century of European implosion, amazingly it took 2 World Wars. Into the vacuum came the US, and predictably (like any other state) we exploited that position.
3. Underhanded dealings, again in the Twin Cities we had an extensive transit system, Twin Cities Rapid Transit, that was destroyed by the auto industry. This same industry, coupled with Eisenhower's grand vision for freeways made the automobile a fundamental component to "the good life". This surge in car ownership made suburbs and now exurbs not just possible, but attractive to middle class people. Unfortunately, this lifestyle is incredibly inefficient.
It's for these reasons that I believe that the automobile is the fundamental reason the US uses as much energy as it does today.

Edit:
Before the ARM "crisis" there was a pronounced flow of people and capital back into city cores throughout the US. The funny thing is that with all that new development, land prices were increasing and many people were being priced out of the city. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, the left hand blames me for white flight and the right for gentrification. Fun.

Answer 3

First of all, I, as an American, am very well aware of the fact that our resources are limited. Not all of us are ignorant about this anyway, so get that through your head. Hell, I do what I can for the environment, whether it means unplugging an appliance that hasn't been used in a long time or if it's something I use often, I unplug it and I also turn off any lights that were on if and when I am to leave a room. I turn off the water while brushing my teeth, don't take too long in the shower, I recycle, etc. Bully for you, you use only 1/4 the average consumption in our country (or if you will our confederacy of dunces), I don't use anything close to the country's average consumption. That's right, I don't use anything close to the average consumption of our country's energy, but you sure as hell don't see me acting all smug about it. You should take this up with the energy corporations(ie. Bush's cronies), they're the ones who raise our prices.

Answer 4

Many, but by no means all Americans are overfed, illiterate, mean slobs who will realize this if and when they feel their stomachs finally begin to rumble with hunger and the lights go out.

Four percent of this country may be developed, but most of it is now nearly uninhabitable, due to overgrazing, soil erosion, and the lumber industry--due to shortsightedness and greed.

However, I agree with the poster above that far-sighted, well-informed Americans will join ultimately join with the people of the world and find solutions to the problems that face us, including global warming.

P.S. However, if we don't dump this current government, which has been put in place by greedy, ignorant, short-sighted people, we are doomed.

Answer 5

No that wasnt my expensese and yours, you checked the average sure. I am one of them evil conservatives and I recycle, use efficient light bulbs, and other simple conservation methods.
The two vehicles at this house are reasonably efficient also.
It saves money.
So dont be looking my way with a pointed finger.
Maybe look at people like your nobel prize Al Gore who was wasting so much power or the hollywood lefty elite that turns on the AC in the summer so they can have a fire going in the fireplace.

Answer 6

Such arrogance libbie that you presume to dictate to others how they can and cannot live. Did you know that only roughly 4% of all land in the contiguous US is developed even after 200+ years of the republic. Thats why capitalism is extremely important in the allowance for the most efficient use of scarce resources that have alternative uses.Sso enjoy living in the dark sipping on cold latte, I will thunder my gas guzzling suv down the road and use as much electrcity as I want and there aint a D$%^ thing you can do about it.

Answer 7

this Maltheausean nonsense has been haunting humanity for over 200 years now. Every dire prediction it has made has proved false.

what actually happens, over and over, is humans go and invent something new that solves the problem.

what humanity needs more of is economic growth, especially in the poor countries. Amazingly, economic growth leads to all sorts of good things -- longer life spans, improved health, lower pollution, safer transportation, and on and on.

grow !! -- it's good for your country.

Answer 8

When you you realize that artificial scarcity is an economic ploy for political change? Remember the history of the Irish potato famine ? The crown kept the potatoes on the dock and refused to ship them to Ireland. Nearly every commodity can be artificially scarce or left alone.

Answer 9

When they come to terms with their Egos and stop being so Greedy.

You shouldn't concern your self with this though. You sound like you may be part of the problem.

Answer 10

When we run out and our SUV's are not gased up. Thats where nuclear weapons come in. Just think about it.